Patriots, Cardinals among top Super Bowl contenders

By Mark Schremmer

With the 10^th week of the NFL season almost complete, the separation between the contenders and pretenders is becoming more vivid.

Let’s take a quick look at the five teams with the best chance of winning Super Bowl L.

1. New England Patriots

With Sunday’s 27-26 win over the New York Giants, the Patriots remained perfect with a 9-0 record. New England has scored the most points (303) and has allowed the third fewest (169) among teams that have played nine games. Tom Brady passed for 334 yards and two touchdowns, and Stephen Gostowski hit a 54-yard field goal to give the Patriots the win over the Giants.

2. Arizona Cardinals

Sunday’s 39-32 win over the Seattle Seahawks proves the Cardinals (7-2) are the new team to beat in the NFC West. Arizona boasts an electric offense with Carson Palmer at quarterback and Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown at receiver. The Cardinals have the second most points with 302.

3. Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are 9-0. Yes, the same Carolina Panthers who won only seven games in 2014 are 9-0. Led by another strong performance from quarterback Cam Newton, the Panthers dropped the Tennessee Titans 27-10 on Sunday. Carolina also boasts one of the NFL’s stingiest defenses.

4. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals enter tonight’s Monday Night Football game against the Houston Texans with one of the NFL’s three perfect records. Quarterback Andy Dalton has already passed for more than 2,200 yards and 18 touchdowns, but the Bengal defense also enters with the fewest points allowed at 142.

5. Green Bay Packers

Sunday’s 18-16 loss to the Detroit Lions hurts, but the Packers remain one of the top teams in the NFL. Green Bay has lost three consecutive games, but the team always has a chance as long as Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback.

Mark Schremmer has been a sports reporter since 2000 and has covered games at the professional, college and high school levels for the Topeka Capital-Journal and The Joplin Globe.